How to Uncover your Deeper Symbols
How to uncover your deeper symbols:
& how to use their archetypal meaning as inspiration for your environment.
Unfortunately, people are still looking outside themselves for meaning,
not yet understanding that their own subconscious is the only source of creativity!
I want to take the time here to show you a fun way to uncover the fact that the meaning you seek is already inside you. And that you can use this meaning as deeper inspiration for your life and importantly to Catherine Rose Design…your environment.
The symbols that you are naturally (subconsciously) drawn to (or repelled from!) hold deep archetypal lessons for you. You can use these lessons to connect deeper to your inner intuition and creativity.
Allowing yourself to start from scratch, with the simplest of concepts to uncover what your soul is attracted to is a beautiful and fun way to explore your inner world, and connect to the collective unconscious.
After reading this article I would love for you to start uncovering your own personal symbols for yourself! This is a great and easy way to get out of our typical ego and left-brain only mentality and start tapping into our intuition using simple symbolic images.
Your Symbolism and Design…
You are probably wondering what the connection is between a symbol of a butterfly (for example) and the life or space you want to design?!... This process of you realizing that butterflies (for example) are important to you symbolically denotes the exact same process that has inspired artists, poets, and musicians since the beginning of time.
Your soul is attracted to the butterfly for some reason that your intuition understands, but your rational mind is trying to put a label on it cutting you off from the deeper meaning of your desires. This process is the same process that has people labeling others and objects and cutting off the deeper connection to everyone and everything. The same process that allows the commodification of everything on this planet.Including…SPOILER ALERT, your own home environment!
It’s time to bravely engage with your inner creativity and begin to get comfortable allowing your subconscious to guide you to authentic inspiration!
Not “design styles”, what’s currently “in”… or why by some reason what you love always seems to be “out”…
This approach to inspiration is a fast track towards connection with your deeper self, and in my opinion, the only real way to inspiration is through your inner world.
The Design Industry and its lack of reflection or meaning…
Working in the design industry I’ve sadly realized how devoid of meaning creating an environment has become in mainstream society. I want to reconnect you (and all of my clients) to the meaning inherent in your creative desires so you no longer have to look outside yourself for creation! Or take any of the outside messages that, “you lack something” or “you are doing it wrong” to heart any longer.
IT’S ALL LIES.
Understanding your personal symbolism gives you a wealth of depth and meaning to pull from as inspiration in your environment. Real Inspiration that is connected to your own inner depth. This is inspiration, that when utilized in the creation of a material environment, will support your energy as a true sovereign individual.
When you engage with your own inner symbolism the stress of choosing “the right” thing for your space melts away. Because when you start with what your soul is drawn to you CANNOT MAKE A MISTAKE!
If this concept seems a little too out of left field, awesome. This process isn’t for you and there are plenty of amazing traditional designers who would be delighted to help you on your journey! Check out my article on how to find the best designer for you Here.
However, if you are still with me…
Let’s start your personal symbolism journey by exposing you to some common archetypes and symbols!
A rose is symbolic of love, beauty and/or something of value…
The following list has been directly written from The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images by Taschen (highly recommend this book, it’s amazing for dream analysis too!)
***Trigger Warning- I have not censored this list, and some of the symbols can be emotionally triggering!
Step #1:
Read this entire list (even better if you write it down, or print it out - here is a PDF for you!)
Step#2:
See how you feel about each individual symbol
• Make a separate mark for loving it,
• if it generally intrigues you,
• or if you really hate it!
Step#3:
Think about any symbols you love that may be outside this list too!
These are things that come up in your life and inspire you generally…
For example for me: four-leaf clovers (remind me of Ireland and my amazing Grandmother), the seed of life (reminds me of the interconnectedness of the universe), the Fibonacci spiral (one of the only math concepts I deeply resonate with), Sapphire (the stone in my engagement ring and my favorite color) + so many more!
Take the time to list some of these things that inspire you individually.
PS: Sacred Geometry is a fun subject to explore for symbols too!
Step#4:
Research time! Now if you don’t have this awesome book no worries, just do a search online of each of the symbols that you like and see what meanings come up! Now, remember the meaning that resonates with YOU is the most important meaning. If you find conflicting meanings online go with what YOU think about the symbolic meaning. When anything particularly hits you write it down.
Step#5:
Now you have your own archetypal symbology to pull inspiration from that resonates with you!
* Now let me show you how you, starting with your personal symbols can create a vibe board to start off any creative project!
A. Search images online (or anywhere) for each of the symbols you resonate with.
(Bonus point if you have already saved some of these images on a website like Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr or your own photos!)
B. Choose one image that represents the symbol,
that resonates with you visually (since there will definitely be more than one image that shows up!) - this trains you to start recognizing your own intuition leading you to the things that light you up, and is an invaluable tool when collected your inspiration.
C. Combine all of these images into a vibe board of your own personal symbology!
You will find that when you gather all of these symbols together you can start seeing your patterns more clearly!
Depending on what images you choose certain colors will be repeated and an overall sense of how you individually show up in the world will be displayed for you to see!
Use this intuitive exercise to allow your subconscious to communicate through you. You can use these symbols as a jumping-off point for the design of your space or any creative project!
A collection of the symbols from this list that resonate with me!
Hot tip, let’s say you are choosing a new pillow for your bed… Compare the pillow you can’t decide on with your symbols vibe board. Does this pillow make you feel how your vibe board makes you feel? If yes this choice is in resonance with who you are deep down, you should go for it!
I found this quote that describes this uncovering process and engaging with the collective consciousness quite well;
“It is a highly significant, though generally neglected, fact that those creations of the human mind which have borne preeminently the stamp of originality and greatness, have not come from within the region of consciousness. They have come from beyond consciousness, knocking at its door for admittance: they have flowed into it…often with a burst of overwhelming power.” (George Tyrrell)
Let me know if you found any of these tips helpful!
I would if you shared your personal symbols with me I love talking about this stuff!
Love,